Second day for fathers' rights demo

A fathers' rights campaigner is beginning his second day of protest on top of a city bridge.

The Real Fathers For Justice demonstrator scaled the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne at around 5am on Sunday.

He was named as Simon Anderton by a spokesman for the campaign group.

The 44-year-old was still perched on the top parapet of the steel structure, police said.

On Sunday, he unfurled a banner which read, "Happy Father's Day" and tied a dummy with its head in a noose - intended to represent a father - to the arch of the bridge.

Police said he removed his banner shortly before 11pm on Sunday and bedded himself down for the night.

The pressure group Fathers 4 Justice lent its support to Mr Anderton. A statement from the organisation read: "Fathers 4 Justice send Simon congratulations and wish him every success. This one of many more fathers' rights protests to come in the very near future."

It added: "Expect the unexpected."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said the campaigner had conducted similar protests in the past. "We understand he has warm clothing and food supplies. He has also indicated he is a former scaffolder and is used to working at heights," she said.

She added an ambulance was on standby at the scene as a precaution, although there was no suggestion the man would try to harm himself.